Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-09-24

ance for years. She kept his faults 10
herself She never breathed aurht
against him She upheld him.
strengthened him, coun~elled him. If
woman> influence could have saved
him he would have been saved
II have seen her home taken from
her. Her children and herself wan
derlng from one place 10 another, as
she could best earn their support; and
th~ man, seemingly devoid Of human
feelings, leaving her to her own re-
sources, while wealthy relations cared
for him.
Ill his woman was very near and
dear To me. and nothing upon earth
could induce me Ia put myself in sub
jertlou to the possibility # such fate.
1ou have my true friends hip. nv
best wishes for Your welfare, my sim
cere prayers that YOU may conquer in
this fiery trial, but dare not give YOU
more. God only knows how hard this
i for me to say to YOU, How willing
y would share your fate in poverty.
IN any ordinary trial Of life; but |
dare not. ful mine own soul sake, say
/ take your life, whatever it may be
for mlnc. And SO. Harry, let Us speak
Of thl, 40 more.
She held out her hand. He caught
it. He drew her impuI>ively toward
him. He held her for an instant close
ly.
"Margaret, he said, ''let me kiss
you once
And before she could reply his burn
ing lips touched her pure cool brow
''God bless YOU, Margaret, whatever
becomes of me"
In unothcr:i in Stant he was gone.
She passed through the garden-Wa1k
into the pleasant porch. and stood i
moment before the open parlor-win-
dow, where an old gentleman rested in
an easy chair.
1t i "a lovely night, father" she
said; 'but | will 20 to my room, ! be-
ieve, / am very weary tonight.
Good uight."
* night, my daughter,"
Al. Nlargarct went as usual with
l-r stately step to her chamber-doOr;
Dat within lis solitude, and the
prot resolved spirit was bowed in
blttti sorrow.
How She had loved this man! And
her whole franie shook with the sobs
she da I'd not vent loudly, and the
tears rushed down:the proud beautiful
lace. Must she thus condemn him,
and was there no hope for him?
He was student of medicine, study
ING of late with her father, anI an
eager, apt student. He had COM into
the quiet life of this -sirl as bright
sunbeam. His quick active intellect
tine of her usual life
His tastes harmonised with her
own, and she had given him her heart
entirely.
Then, one day, she learned thst the
fatal habit of stimulating his energies
when exhausted by study or fatigue
had become a necessity to him, and the
interview we have Just related WAS the
decision at which She had arrived.
She was girl Of no ordinary char
acter Her clear good sense, with the
intimate knowledge of her friend )
life, taught her to doubt the influence
T she could WELD against the triumphal
! Ju@gernaut, whose victims can never
be numbered.
! Harry Norton left the village for the
! distractions of a life in a great city.
I Now and then news came of him as a
/ clever successful practitioner, accom-
! panied with doubtful surmi>es as TO
| certain changes in his habits Of life
! vague speeches, meaning, perhaps,
! much or little.
Margaret's life flowed quietly on;
! her father, yielding to the intirmtie9 Of
! old aye, demanded her care and atten-
/ ton
Perhaps close observers might detect
/ q shade Of sadness now and then in
| those clear grey ewes. but she was not
one Of those who live solely for their
own pleasure. and no one in all the
village was more relied upon IN sorrow
or trouble as kind >ympathiser than
| she:
\ young clergyman who settled il
the parish was soon obscryant of this
strong, self-reliant na1ure-this tender
| daughter and kind friend, Margaret
was not doomed 10 live a solitary life
| She found much IL esteem III Mr.. kldon
and at last much 10 loye: and one
| bright spring morning she stood witt
him at the village altar a his bride.
As She entered the carriage paeke
was given to her. and opening it, >hs
found a we1ding-gift ift-a brooch formed
Of a large pare pearl, finely set. and .
/ letter.
l. The letter was as follows:
MARGARET.-You are a pearl among al
! others III ny memory. and beE you 10 acce i
/ frleu<i. You were right. MarEaret-no man
! knowing himself save - int-mperanc"
! should ever tempt a woman Ia snar,. Il Cf.T-e
! What can write you of my litc> pn!N tia
/ there are times " hen am mad-wilca no RS